SPI, Cameron County caught in tug of war

SOUTH PADRE ISLAND, Texas – A project to expand the South Padre Island Convention Center has found itself caught in a tug of war between elected officials with the Island resort and Cameron County.

The project expansion calls for having a community theater on a 15,500 square feet area that has become one of the Rio Grande Valley’s top bird watching destinations.

Thousands of migratory birds stop there during winter and fall months as they head south or north. The clusters of native trees and shrubs planted and the feeding stations attract the bird like magnets.

Among the many birds seen there include painted and blue buntings and scarlet and summer tanagers.

But the woody place could be gone as the proposed expansion would impact the area referred to by many as a bird sanctuary.

The land where the convention center is belongs to Cameron County but under a 1992 lease agreement with the city it was built afterwards.

On Tuesday, the town sought authorization from the commissioners’ court to expand the center but it was denied by the administrative body.

The commissioners’ action was prompted by the numerous comments made by people opposing the expansion. They said the project would cause irreparable damage to the bird’s habitat.

Among them were environmentalists, avid birth watchers and concerned citizens.

According to a release issued by the county office, the “county judge and commissioners understand the need for balance between economic growth and environmental conservation and voted to deny the expansion as presented.”

However, the commissioner’s court would like to encourage the City of South Padre Island to revisit the proposed expansion and generate alternative design options that would allow for the expansion of the convention center while conserving the surrounding habitat, the release says.

“The County and the City of South Padre Island have a long history of working together, and I look forward to once again collaborating on a project for our residents and visitors through this convention  center expansion project which serves the needs of our growing community all while preserving our natural habitats and fostering ecotourism efforts,” Cameron County Judge Eddie Treviño, Jr., stated.

By contrast, when SpaceX and the Texas Parks & Wildlife Commission swapped 43 acres near Boca Chica Beach State Park for 477 acres the rocket company was to acquire along Texas Highway 100 and north of the Bahia Grande Unit of the Laguna Atascosa National Wildlife Refuge, county officials supported the land exchange in early 2024.

Meanwhile, the city is determined to find a solution that balances economic growth with environmental concerns.

“South Padre Island is an important birding destination, so we will continue to work with the public and local officials to address concerns raised in the recent session as we work on revised expansion plan,” the city stated to a question asked by the Rio Grande Guardian.

The city will consider all options as it revises the expansion plans and that might even include finding another location to build the proposed community theater.

City officials hope a ground breaking of the project could take place by the end of the year, all things considered.

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